BURRIS PROVING MONEY'S NOT EVERYTHING

Roland Burris, the front-runner for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, likes to say his campaigns for statewide office have "always had a sweet message and very little money."

Campaign finance reports filed Monday with the State Board of Elections indicate that at least half of that statement is true.

Burris, the former state attorney general and comptroller, began 1998 with just $35,111 on hand. By contrast, each of his three main rivals in the March 17 primary had $300,000 or more.

But that big money hasn't yet paid off in early polls. Although the other three contenders--former U.S. Atty. Jim Burns, former Justice Department official John Schmidt and U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard (D-Ill.)--have raised and spent a total of more than $2 million on their campaigns, Burris enjoys a substantial lead.

The reports filed by Burris' campaign show he raised $174,613 in the last half of 1997, almost half of which came from personal loans to his campaign. He reported spending $139,502 during that time period, leaving $35,111 in his campaign fund to begin 1998.

Burris' early success in the polls is largely attributed to high name recognition built up during his 16 years in statewide elective office. The question now is whether his lack of cash and limited fundraising efforts so far will allow him to hang onto his lead going into the March 17 primary.

Burris was in a similar position four years ago, when he was the early leader in a three-way race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. His lead faded under aggressive spending by his opponents, and he lost the primary to Dawn Clark Netsch.

The next year, he mounted an unsuccessful challenge to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

That alienated some leading Democrats. Others, wondering if Burris could mount a successful campaign after two disappointments, have shifted their backing to other candidates.

According to their campaign reports, Poshard, Schmidt and Burns each began the year with at least $300,000 in cash on hand and with more major fundraisers planned.

All of those candidates contend that huge amounts of money are needed to buy television time to get their message out as Election Day draws near.

So far, Burris and Burns are the only two of the four major Democratic contenders who have not bought media time. Burris aides have said they intend to use paid commercials within the last month before the primary.

But unless he significantly boosts his fundraising, it is questionable if Burris will be able to afford to buy enough air time to widely spread his message.

Available time slots will also be in shorter supply as the multitude of candidates snap up prime advertising spots.

Burris' reports show he made two loans to his campaign: $50,000 on July 8 and an additional $30,000 on Dec. 31. The reports also show his largest individual contributor was Midwest Can Co. of Franklin Park, which donated $5,000.

Almost 70 percent of Burris' campaign expenses, totaling $96,500, were for political consultants and assistance, the reports showed.

Regardless of the Democratic primary outcome, the winner is likely to take on a formidable fundraiser in presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee George Ryan, the current secretary of state.

Ryan's campaign finance reports showed he raised almost $2.5 million in the last half of 1997 to augment the more than $2.5 million he already had in his campaign war chest. He spent $944,000, leaving him with almost $4.1 million. Ryan's primary challenger, conservative Chad Koppie, lent his campaign $50,000 of the $52,749 it raised. Koppie spent $51,535, leaving his campaign with $1,214.

Meanwhile, in the battle for the Democratic and Republican nominations to replace Ryan as secretary of state, the competition for money was just as heated.

Democratic candidate Timothy McCarthy raised more than $150,000 in his first bid for statewide office, with $100,000 coming in the form of a loan from Robert A. Tierney Jr. of Palos Park.

A campaign spokesman described Tierney as a "supporter and longtime friend" of the Orland Park police chief. McCarthy spent about $50,000, leaving him with more than $100,000.

Cook County Recorder of Deeds Jesse White spent only $4,421 on his Democratic secretary of state campaign during the reporting period and had more than $118,000 as of Dec. 31. Of the money raised, nearly $28,000 was transferred in from another of White's political committees. An additional $16,000 came from the 27th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.

The third contender in the Democratic primary, state Sen. Penny Severns (D-Decatur), had just $1,456 in cash after spending $28,014 on her campaign. She raised only $5,330 in contributions to add to the $24,140 she had when the reporting period began.

In the GOP race for secretary of state, attorney Al Salvi of Wauconda raised a total of $55,017, which included a $35,729 personal donation. Salvi spent $47,628, leaving him with $7,389 in his coffers on Dec. 31.

His opponent, state Rep. Robert Churchill (R-Lake Villa) opened the reporting period with $70,855 and collected $126,198, including nearly $50,000 from the campaign committees of several politicians and special-interest groups. He spent $136,001 on his campaign, leaving him with $61,052.